I am so happy that rapper Juelz Santana is making a return to his music roots. It has been over seven years since Juelz last dropped an official solo album. What The Game’s Been Missing!was released via Def Jam in 2005 and sold over 500,000 copies worldwide which was good enough to earn him a gold plaque from the RIAA. His new mixtape, God Will’narrives next Monday (January 14). The Harlem native legal issues and bumps in the road caused him to have a few setbacks and missed some really good opportunities including his anticipated, I Can’t Feel My Face collaboration mixtape with Lil Wayne. Village Voice caught up with Juelz for an exclusive interview. Below are some highlights.

You decided not to release music while you going through some issues. Do you think that was wise?
Well, I took some downtime but I didn’t stay away from my fans until it was like, “What the fuck? Where the fuck did he go and where the fuck did he just come from?” My presence was still felt even though I was out there like that.

So you named the mixtape God Willin’. Why’d you chose that as a title?God Willin… it just came to me and it felt good, it felt right. After I announced the title people hit me on Twitter, reminding me that Clipse first album was called Lord Willlin’.Honestly though the title just came to me. I didn’t even think of that album. It just came to me. Originally it was going to be called Reagan Era and Kendrick Lamar got a song with that title but I been screaming “Reagan Era” for years. Or like Jay naming his album The Blueprint after KRS had an album by that title. It’s all good at the end of the day.

What’s different this time around?
I’m gonna treat the situations like I’m a new artist. I’m just hungry again. God Willin is just gonna be the start of a new chapter. I got a new label situation called Anything’s Possible. But it’s still Dipset, Skull Gang. I’m still on Def Jam. I already got the second mixtape done after God Willin where I’ll be rapping over other people’s beats but we’re just going to talk about God Willin for now. I’m just happy to be back in business. I want to enjoy working and go hard and be where I need to be. Right where some of these niggas ain’t supposed to be. I’m still lookin better than a lot of niggas who just dropped albums though. They looking lost out here. It’s time to follow the leader again.

You mentioned being where you need to be or feel where you belong. Do you regret the time taken off? True you stayed somewhat visible but it did impede your momentum, no?
The time off was definitely a long time. I know people are looking like “Damn.” I wasted time that I can’t get back and I blame only myself. And I said it’s where I belong because hard work beats talent. Niggas outworked me so that’s why they’re where they are but they ain’t got my talent. So it’s time to just get right back into working. And right now it feels perfect. It just feels right. Besides, there’s always room for a real nigga.

True. So when can we get another song with you, Cam and Jimmy on it?
We’re working on making it that happen. I’m with whatever. We’ve been talking about things. It was always more than music with us so we all just have to get back into that space. But again, I feel like the time is just perfect right now. This is the time for everything.